International Folk Dance Association   of University City presents . . .
	Past Event Page  •  IFDA Home Page

Romanian Folk Dances

a workshop taught by

Cristian Florescu and
Sonia Dion

February 3-5, 2006
University City (St. Louis), Missouri

No previous experience required!
No partners needed!

Schedule and Prices

See schedule at the left for details.  A weekend dance pass is available for $45 which includes everything in the schedule except for the lunch.  You may use the Registration Form to order weekend passes and lunches.  Lunch reservations need to be received by Saturday, January 28.  Individual sessions and the Saturday night party may also be paid for at the door as indicated in the schedule.  Attendees of ages 10-18 will receive a 20% discount.  Children under 10 are free but must be accompanied by a parent.

The Sunday sessions are intended for those who have attended earlier workshop sessions, but other interested persons are invited to come and observe.

About the Teachers

Cristian Florescu was born in Bucarest, Romania.  He started dancing in 1982 with different Romanian folk ensembles, and studied with various specialists including Theodor Vasilescu. Cristian was principal dancer with the National Ensemble Cununa Carpatilor with whom he toured extensively in Europe, Asia and North America.  In 1990-91, he received his certificate as a recognized solo dancer and choreographer in the field of folklore by the Romanian Ministry of Culture and the ACAFR (Romanian Folklore Choreographers Association).  He also assumed the role of director of dance rehearsals for the Folk Ensembles Izvor and Balada, and worked as choreographer for the Academic Ensemble Joc in Moldova.  In 1993 he joined Les Sortilèges, a professional folk dance company based in Montreal with whom he was actively involved until 2003 as a dancer, teacher, rehearsal director and choreographer.  While in Canada, Cristian has acquired multiple skills in various dance forms including modern dance, ballroom, jazz, tap as well as French-Canadian and Irish step dancing.

Sonia Dion was born in Quebec and has been a professional dancer for over 20 years.  She was lead dancer and choreogreapher for Les Sortilèges, Canada's oldest folk dance ensemble, with whom she developed several new productions including Une page d'histoire, In pas de danse, Montréal en danse, and Pour se faire plaisir.  Sonia has toured world-wide and has been exposed to a wide range of dance techniques including Romanian Folk Dance, Scottish Highland Dancing, French-Canadian step dance and ballroom dance.

Cristian and Sonia have been guest performers with the Collage International Dance Ensemble of Boston, have been regular teachers at l'École supérieure de danse du Québec, and have been selected to be part of the Artists in the Schools program sponsored by the Quebec Ministry of Education.  In recent years, they have developed a specific interest in working with recreational folk dance groups in Canada and the United States to share their love of Romanian folk traditions.

For more information see their web site at www.bourque-moreau.com/florescu, from which the above information and photo were obtained.

To hear examples of the type of dance music that will be featured at this workshop, tune in to Music from the Hills on Saturdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on radio station KDHX, 88.1 FM in St. Louis.  The program is co-hosted by IFDA members John Uhlemann and Gitry Heydebrand.  You can also listen online -- see KDHX's web site at www.kdhx.org.

Locations

University United Methodist Church (Friday and Saturday):  6901 Washington Ave., University City, Missouri; on the northwest corner of Washington and Trinity south of the Lion Gates on Delmar -- see Yahoo! Map.  (Note:  Forest Park Pky. / Millbrook Blvd. is currently closed due to MetroLink construction.)  Parking is available in the church lot and on Trinity, but please do not park on the residential part of Washington.  Walk by the playground in front of the church, and enter by the door at the inner corner of the L-shaped building.

The Focal Point (Sunday):  2720 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri; 1 1/2 blocks south of Manchester -- see Yahoo! Map.  Watch for one-way streets in the area.  Park on street.  Directions will also be available at the Saturday sessions.

Other Information

	Made possible by grants from

Hard-soled shoes (leather or synthetic) are recommended, since rubber tends to stick to the floor.  Dress is casual.

Saturday lunch will feature soup and salad.  Saturday dinner will be potluck.  Contributions of fruits and sweets for snacks would be appreciated.

Crash Space is available.  Please contact Diana Blanchard at 314-726-5737 or diana.blanchard@att.net.

For Other Information:  Please contact Barbara (phone 314-726-5838, E-mail barbara.uhlemann@sbcglobal.net), or Gitry (phone 314-863-1825, E-mail Gitry@aol.com).